*** REPOSTED FOR S.H READERS EXPERIENCING GRAIN RAIN IN OCTOBER ***

Reader’s Note : The 24 solar terms are a ‘code of living’; assisting us in living in tandem with seasons and beating to our internal circadian rhythm. The Ancient Chinese knew nothing of the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE when making their astrological calculations. However, anyone experiencing the opposite season, could consider reading the 18th Solar term of ‘Frost descends’ for its cultural customs, gardening, dietary suggestions and climate cues. Please Note - We practice authentic Classical Feng Shui, so regardless of your domicile, ‘FENG SHUI’, ‘CHINESE MONTH’ & ‘ZODIACAL ANIMAL’ observations below will remain as per dates below.

The last Solar term of Spring is upon us. Indicated by the 6th solar term of Grain Rain or, Spring Showers as it’s also known in the N. Hemisphere, commencing on 20th April. Luna’s third swollen face of the Chinese year will be fullest on April 27th (AEST) at 7° Scorpio. Depicted in Chinese paintings by pairing a Crow with cherry blossom. And we’re currently at the mid-point of Dragon month, while in the western astrological system, the sun enters earthy Taurus season.

☼ 6th Solar Term :: Grain Rain Gu Yu 穀雨

The 6th Solar term of Grain Rain (Spring showers) commence on the April 20th, a nod to the last seasonal marker of Spring in the Tong Shu, with a new season of Summer observed in the N. hemisphere two weeks from now. The 24 Solar Terms, (seasonal nodes) used by the Chinese are defined according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic. The sun’s apparent position on the ecliptic is now 30°.

The nodal shift indicates an extended stretch in the length of light in the day and temperatures could feel far from warm and on the cusp of Summer! The solar term indicates Gentle Rain fall for prosperous grains to flourish, and it’s widely acknowledged as the best solar term to begin sowing of crops. The earth should begin to warm up and sustain the growth of seeds and grains. This term often coincides with the 3rd Lunar month and the God Rain’s birthday is celebrated - Xuan Shangdi.

The Chinese almanac system also further subdivides the seasonal terms into more detailed increments of time, known as the 72 Material Manifestations (wuhou). The first of the five day divisions is called ‘Ping shi sheng’ meaning Duckweed Begins to Grow. The following manifestation is ‘Cockoos Flutter Their Wings’ (Mingjiu fu qi yu) and ending the solar term with the final wuhou of ‘Hoopoes Land on Mulberry Trees’ (Daisheng jiang yu sang). The Manifestations are a nod to *phenological cues that indicate Spring activities have gained ground.

🌐 IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

For those domicile in celestial Southern parts of the globe April correlate to Autumn’s final colourful show coming to an end in 15 days time with the opposing 18th Solar Term of Frost Descends (Shuang Jiang) commencing.

👥 CULTURAL & DIETARY CUSTOMS

During Grain Rain, Asian folk residing in coastal areas would honour the sea with rituals at this time, in the quest to have a fecund season of fishing. At the end of ceremonies boats would set sail to garner a feast of fish. Again, should this term coincides with the 3rd lunar month, the Birthday of Mazu, the Goddess of Sea is celebrated. Another significant dietary custom at this time is the picking of fresh tea leaves and consuming the first teas of the solar term - believed to brighten eyes. Cooling fruits such as citrus should be avoided.

People start to eat eating lighter and easy to digest in-season vegetables, such as asparagus. And eat Eggs, which are in season! Yes, you read that correct - naturally egg laying occurs when daylight is approx 10 hours long.

Cooling fruits such as citrus should be avoided. And refrain from overeating oily and greasy foods, taking it easy on alcohol consumption, as Stomach Qi can become stagnant, in an Earth governed month. Boosting Qi and strengthen the Earth aligned organs, Spleen and Stomach with rice or rice congee is ideal.

Peony flowers are favoured in this solar term, which is said to be linked to China’s only female ruler, Empress Wu Zetian’s of the Tang Dynasty, a keen admirer for the deciduous perennial shrub. Since 2015, the city has had an annual international peony Expo, promoting culture as well as boosting the local economy.

The high regarded Peony is oft featured in silk and ink scroll paintings. It’s known as the Queen of All Flowers in Chinese culture, and I for one concur. Akin to an old moss rose without the thorns! To the Chinese a peony is a symbol of royalty and virtue and the flower of wealth and honour - (fuguihua富貴花). It’s the Japanese symbol for a happy marriage. Colour wise due to the Chinese affinity to red, it’s the colour of choice when choosing a bloom to symbolise wealth.

ASTROLOGICAL MAGIC

The peony’s place was prized it would seem, in a witches garden or at the altar of folk practicing magic. Grated root is ideally used for smudging. In Christopher Warlock’s book, Secrets of Planetary Magic, the peony is partnered with doves feet, among other things to invoke the planet Jupiter! Unless my dear old Dad has a dead pigeon hanging around in his loft, I doubt I’ll be invoking Jupiter in such a fashion!!!

Back to the Peony, which reminds me of my grandmother who if memory serves me right, her thoughts concurred with the ancient superstition of digging peonies up, for fear of unlucky deeds. During the Middle Ages the plant was linked to fairy folk, and ensured a thriving garden where ever the bulbous bloom was present. Peony roots dry rock hard but when fashioned into a disk necklace and worn or placed over cradles it was said to protect young children from the magic of Fairies - take your pick, either way a faerie is involved.

But if you did dig a peony root it was prized for it’s medicinal uses in TCM, burned as Incense to protect in travel against stormy high seas or imbued with the power to protect against misfortune, buoy your health, break jinxes or attract good fortune!

Linked to the Sun and the element of fire, it was used in exorcisms (1). The root was only garnered at night, when the seeds are said to shine with an eerie light. A nod to the supernatural powers enhanced by its phosphorescence. I’ve long owned a lengthy string of red beads, they are a prize possession and much admired. But until I researched this article, I was at a lost as to the origin of the bead. They definitely appear to be that of the peony. Two schools of thought on their significance. Some say they promote dissension and strife. While others say the seeds, when soaked in rain water, are an amulet for protection against witchcraft and the devil.

If you’re picking blooms for pure pleasure, plucking them at night is advised to keep their spiritual and healing properties strong. And my favourite piece of folklore, they are said to cure lunacy -another reason to pluck your blooms in the evening when the sun goes down!

Peeps in the N.H, enjoy the last solar term of Spring ◘

ⓒ FENG SHUi iSM Originally written in 2018 - updated 2023

* The relevance of the ancient Chinese Almanac and the 24 Solar Terms (or seasonal nodes, as they are sometimes referred to), were not only for agricultural purposes; individuals took cues from the Nodes and adopted various seasonal diets and exercise. Calculated via the sun's annual motion, they discern the year's change in season by way of phenology, climate and the tilt of the suns varying shadow length on the ecliptic to decipher a season.

Phenology, is one of three methods used to decipher seasons - it uses the changes in plant and animal behaviour - such as animal migration, types of plants, and changes in colours in the landscape - to determine when the seasons begin. The Chinese seasons commence 1½ months before the comparative seasons in the Western Calendar. The 24 solar terms are used to insert leap (intercalary) months in the Chinese calendar to keep it in sync with seasons.